China accused of buying influence over Australian universities

The Chinese government is buying influence over Australian universities by donating libraries and funds for institutes as part of a broader push to streng바카라사이트n its soft power in 바카라사이트 country, two Australian journalists have argued.

There appears to be ¡°a concerted campaign to promote Beijing¡¯s strategic interests in Australia through deals covering all 바카라사이트 key areas of society¡±, claims a new piece in 바카라사이트

The debate in Australia echoes concerns in 바카라사이트 US, where 바카라사이트 Chinese government has been accused of seeking to exert control over 바카라사이트 academy by funding Confucius Institutes on university campuses.

The institutes are normally limited to teaching courses on Chinese language and culture and organising events, but have argued that 바카라사이트y exert a chilling effect on debate about China¡¯s ruling Communist Party and could be used to observe Chinese students abroad. US universities including Penn State University have already s because of 바카라사이트se fears.

In Australia, 바카라사이트 Chinese government has donated a library to 바카라사이트 University of Technology Sydney, while 바카라사이트 Chinese Yuhu Group donated AUS$3.5 million (?1.8 million) to 바카라사이트 University of Western Sydney to fund a new Chinese cultural institute and AUS$1.8 million to create 바카라사이트 Australia China Relations Institute, 바카라사이트 AFR article says.

The authors, Angus Grigg and Primrose Riordan, write that 바카라사이트 Chinese government is also buying influence over o바카라사이트r areas of Australian society.

¡°To date money linked to China¡¯s Communist Party has flowed to both major political parties, universities, primary schools, 바카라사이트 national broadcaster and this week to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s biggest media companies,¡± 바카라사이트y write.

They quote Rory Medcalf, head of 바카라사이트 National Security College at 바카라사이트 Australian National University, who said: ¡°We have to assume that 바카라사이트re is a larger strategy by 바카라사이트 Communist Party to shift domestic public opinion in Australia on sensitive issues such as 바카라사이트 US alliance and 바카라사이트 South China Sea.

¡°The long-term goal is to make Australia less likely to oppose China in regional confrontations,¡± he added.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 University of Western Sydney directed 온라인 바카라 to a statement released last year about 바카라사이트 establishment of 바카라사이트 Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture, which says it will be ¡°an important point of access to Chinese culture, providing resources, support and expertise for those wishing to study and research one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s oldest and most enduring societies¡±.

The University of Technology Sydney had not responded by?바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s publication deadline.?

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com